Hopi Male and Female Rainbow Dancers by Pablita Velarde [R]

Even though she was from Santa Clara Pueblo, it was not unusual for Pablita Velarde (1918-2006) Tse Tsan - Golden Dawn to paint subjects from other Native tribes.  She often painted Navajo Yei figures and, in this instance, painted a pair of Hopi Rainbow Dancers.  She executed these in mineral earth materials for which she was famous.  She would grind up mineral elements into a fine powder which she stored in jars until time to use them for paintings.  She then mixed these powders with glue and water and used them as paints.

There is sometimes confusion on this pair of dancers.  As Katsinas, the pair is called Poli Mana and Poli Taka and both wear masks and are personated by men, but as non-Katsina dancers, the female are danced by women.  Velarde has pictured both the male and female without masks so they are considered dancers, not katsinas.

Condition:  there is a small stain in the yellow paint just below the right elbow of the female dancer but it is not obtrusive and not really noticeable unless examined closely.  The painting of the male appears to be in very good condition.

Provenance: from a gentleman from Santa Fe

Recommended Reading: Pablita Velarde-Painting Her People by Marcella Ruch